Learn a Chinese Character - 贞 (zhēn) - Chastity; Fidelity

1. Character Basics (基本信息)

Radical: 贝 (shell, as a symbol of value in ancient times)

Stroke Count: 6

Character Decomposition: 卜 + 贝 (divination symbol + shell, indicating divination with shells in ancient times)

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation (发音)

Pinyin: zhēn (first tone)

3. Meaning (含义)

贞 originally referred to divination in ancient times. Later, it evolved to mean chastity, fidelity, and steadfastness. (“贞”在古代最初表示占卜，后来演变为贞洁、忠诚、坚定的意思。)

4. Common Words (常用词汇)

• 贞操 (zhēn cāo) - chastity
• 忠贞 (zhōng zhēn) - loyalty and fidelity
• 贞节 (zhēn jié) - chastity; virtue

5. Grammar & Usage (语法与用法)

贞 is often used as an adjective to describe a person's moral character, such as loyalty, chastity, etc. It can also be used in some fixed phrases. (“贞”常作形容词，用来描述人的品德，如忠诚、贞洁等，也可用于一些固定词组中。)

6. Cultural Background (文化背景)

In traditional Chinese culture, 贞 is highly valued, especially in the concept of women's chastity in feudal society. It also represents a person's unwavering belief and loyalty. (在中国传统文化中，“贞”备受重视，尤其是在封建社会的女性贞洁观念中。它也代表着一个人坚定不移的信念和忠诚。)

7. Example Sentence (例句)

8. Memory Tips (记忆技巧)

You can remember 贞 by associating the 卜 (divination symbol) with the ancient practice of divination, and 贝 (shell) as a valuable item. The combination implies the solemnity and value of divination, which later extends to the meaning of loyalty and steadfastness. (你可以通过将“卜”（占卜符号）与古代的占卜行为联系起来，“贝”（贝壳）作为有价值的物品，二者结合暗示了占卜的庄重和价值，后来引申为忠诚、坚定的含义来记忆“贞”字。)